Electrosurgical forceps with resilient jaws

Abstract

The teachings herein provide an instrument comprising a forceps. The forceps comprise a hand piece; a tubular member connected to the hand piece; and a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw element and a second jaw element. The first jaw element includes a gripping section and a flexing section. The flexing section includes an arcuate section. The second jaw element opposes the first jaw element and includes a gripping section. The tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into a closed position. The first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both include a stiffening spine so that the jaw assembly is substantially rigid in the closed position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An instrument comprising:
 a forceps comprising:
 i. a hand piece; 
 ii. a tubular member connected to the hand piece; and 
 iii. a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece, the jaw assembly comprising:
 a. a first jaw element comprising a gripping section and a flexing section, the flexing section includes an arcuate section; 
 b. a second jaw element opposing the first jaw element, the second jaw element comprises a gripping section; 
 
 
 wherein the tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into a closed position, 
 wherein the first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both includes a stiffening spine so that the jaw assembly is substantially rigid in the closed position, 
 wherein the first jaw element is electrically conductive, and the second jaw element is electrically conductive, and the first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both includes an electrically insulating jaw shroud, and 
 wherein the stiffening spine secures the jaw shroud to the first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both. 
 
     
     
       2. The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the second jaw element comprises a flexing section including an arcuate section, and
 wherein the tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element and onto the arcuate section of second jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the flexing section of the second jaw element is flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into the closed position. 
 
     
     
       3. The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the jaw shroud includes a connecting feature and the stiffening spine includes an undercut feature, and
 wherein the connecting feature and the undercut feature are connected together. 
 
     
     
       4. The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the jaw shroud includes one or more projections so that in the closed position, the one or more projections provide a stand off so that the gripping section of the first jaw element and the gripping section of the second jaw element are prevented from touching. 
     
     
       5. The instrument of  claim 4 , wherein the gripping section of the first jaw element, the gripping section of the second jaw element, or both includes an electrode. 
     
     
       6. The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the stiffening spine includes one or more projections so that in the closed position, the one or more projections provide a stand off so that the gripping section of the first jaw element and gripping section of the second jaw element are prevented from touching. 
     
     
       7. The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the jaw shroud includes a stabilizing tongue that provides lateral stability to the jaw assembly when the jaw assembly is in the closed position or when the jaw assembly is moved into the closed position. 
     
     
       8. The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the jaw shroud includes a stabilizing tongue extending from a proximal end of the jaw shroud so that an object is prevented from extending beyond a proximal end of one or more electrically conductive surfaces relative to the hand piece. 
     
     
       9. The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the jaw assembly is free of any pivoting joints or mechanisms. 
     
     
       10. The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the flexing section of the first jaw element is restricted from moving distally, proximally, or both relative to the hand piece. 
     
     
       11. The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping section of the first jaw element, the gripping section of the second jaw element, or both includes a cutting blade slot for reciprocating a cutting blade. 
     
     
       12. An instrument comprising:
 a forceps comprising:
 i. a hand piece; 
 ii. a tubular member moveably connected to the hand piece; and 
 iii. a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece, the jaw assembly comprising:
 a. a first jaw element comprising a gripping portion, a flexing section, and an arcuate section; 
 b. a second jaw element comprising a gripping portion and an arcuate section; 
 
 
 wherein the tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element and onto the arcuate section of the second jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the arcuate section of the second jaw element is flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into a closed position, 
 wherein the first jaw element includes a jaw shroud so that a uniform gripping pressure is provided along the gripping portion of the first jaw element and the gripping portion of the second jaw element, and 
 wherein the first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both includes a stiffening spine so that the gripping portion of the first jaw element, the gripping portion of the second jaw element, or both is prevented from deflecting when the jaw assembly is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       13. The instrument of  claim 12 , wherein the stiffening spine secures the jaw shroud to the first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both. 
     
     
       14. An instrument comprising:
 a forceps comprising:
 i. a hand piece; 
 ii. a tubular member moveably connected to the hand piece; and 
 iii. a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece, the jaw assembly comprising:
 a. a first jaw element comprising a gripping portion and an arcuate section; 
 b. a second jaw element comprising a gripping portion and an arcuate section; 
 
 iv. a stabilizing spine connected to one or both of the first jaw element and the second jaw element; and 
 v. a jaw shroud connected to the stabilizing spine; 
 
 wherein the tubular member is moveable over the arcuate section of the first jaw element and the arcuate section of the second jaw element so that both the first jaw element and the second jaw element are flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into a closed position, and 
 wherein the stabilizing spine and the jaw shroud restrict the gripping portion of the first jaw element, the gripping portion of the second jaw element, or both from deflecting when the jaw assembly is in the closed position so that a uniform gripping pressure is provided along the gripping portion of the first jaw element and the gripping portion of the second jaw element. 
 
     
     
       15. The instrument of  claim 14 , wherein the jaw shroud includes a stabilizing tongue extending near a proximal end of the jaw shroud so that an object is prevented from extending beyond a proximal end of the gripping portion relative to the hand piece. 
     
     
       16. A method of using the instrument of  claim 12 , comprising:
 arranging an object between the gripping portion of the first jaw element and the gripping portion of the second jaw element; 
 moving the tubular member over the arcuate section of the first jaw element and the arcuate section of the second jaw element so that both the first jaw element and the second jaw element are flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into the closed position; 
 moving the tubular member off of the arcuate section of the first jaw element and the arcuate section of the second jaw element so that both the first jaw element and the second jaw element are relaxed and the jaw assembly is moved into an open position; and 
 wherein in the open position, the gripping portion of the first jaw element is in a spaced apart relationship relative to the gripping portion of the second jaw element. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method includes performing one or more functions on the object, the one or more functions including:
 capturing the object; 
 grasping the object; 
 providing a clamping force to secure the object; 
 retracting the object; and/or 
 providing a compression force across the object. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method includes a step of:
 rotating the jaw assembly, a cutting blade, or both relative to the hand piece, and 
 wherein the jaw assembly is restricted from moving distally, proximally, or both relative to the hand piece. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the jaw shroud includes a stabilizing tongue, and
 wherein in the closed position, the stabilizing tongue is prevented from contacting the gripping portion of the first jaw element, the gripping portion of the second jaw element, or both. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the jaw assembly includes one or more projections so that in the closed position, the one or more projections provide a stand off so that the gripping portion of the first jaw element is prevented from contacting the gripping portion of the second jaw element. 
     
     
       21. An instrument comprising:
 a forceps comprising:
 i. a hand piece; 
 ii. a tubular member connected to the hand piece; and 
 iii. a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece, the jaw assembly comprising:
 a. a first jaw element comprising a gripping section and a flexing section, the flexing section includes an arcuate section; 
 b. a second jaw element opposing the first jaw element, the second jaw element comprises a gripping section; 
 
 
 wherein the tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into a closed position, 
 wherein the first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both includes a stiffening spine so that the jaw assembly is substantially rigid in the closed position, and 
 wherein the stiffening spine includes one or more projections so that in the closed position, the one or more projections provide a stand off so that the gripping section of the first jaw element and the gripping section of the second jaw element are prevented from touching.